"Did you see where she went?"
I giggled as some guards ran past the big basket I had just hopped into.
Footsteps and swearing followed, then the sound of feet quickly scuffling away faded.
I peaked my head out of the basket to see the guards were gone.
"Hah, you never learn with me."
Checking again to make sure the coast was clear, I hopped out of the basket and walked away.
It had taken about an hour, but I'd finally lost the guards.
Shrugging at the ruined state of my clothes, I smiled and rounded the nearest corner.
"Umph!"
Grimacing, I bumped into something solid, but soft.
Before I could fall and land on my butt, a pair of hands caught me around the waist.
"Careful girl, you could have hurt yourself." I heard a voice say and looked up.
Holding me up was a young boy, not much older than me I'd guess, with fiery red hair and very tan skin.
He was quite charming with his swaths of clothing and golden jewelry.
"Who are y-"
"Over there!" Someone yelled, drawing my attention to the figures now running down the alley.
"Shoot! This way!"
Not thinking, I grabbed the boys arm, turned and ran in the opposite direction.
"Wait! Who are you, why are we running?" He asked, but kept up with me.
"No time, just run!" I yelled.
I pulled him down a couple different paths and through some alleys.
I made a sharp turn and heard him yelp with surprise when we began up some stairs then quickly through a door into a small empty room.
I closed the door behind us quietly, then listened for footsteps outside.
Instead I heard gasping and wheezing next to me.
I turned and watched the boy as he bent over and breathed heavily.
"We didn't even run that much, and you're out of breath?" I asked in disbelief.
He lifted his head and glared at me, "I'm not used to running, alright?"
He said between breaths.
I scoffed, "then how are you to get away if anyone ever comes after you?"
He stood up straight. "That's what I have people to protect me for, and why were we running anyway. Did you know those people?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Hmm I guess, but it's not like I did anything wrong, they just like to chase me sometimes." I said, shrugging.
He stared at me, "what's you're name?"
"My mother says not to tell strangers my name."
He chuckled, "did she also tell you it's alright to grab random people and make them run away with you?"
I kept a straight face, but giggled when he tiled his head.
"What kind of boy are you, to not run and talk to me like that?" I asked still giggling.
The boys and men that lived around here were nothing like him, being so relaxed.
Everyone that lived here were worriers and raised to be ready for any situation.
He hesitated before answering. "I don't know, this is how most of the boys I know are. I'm considered normal were I live."
"Then you must live very far away!" I laughed, and he joined in with me.
"If you tell me your name boy, I might tell you mine, if I think you worthy." I said smiling, turning to go face an open window in the room.
I heard his footsteps behind me, then saw him come up beside me. "My name is Ganon, and yes, I do come from far away. Though my land is not too different from yours." He said.
I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes.
His clothes were loose and draped across his body as was the style in the desert. They were also very expensive and colorful looking.
I frowned, "you are very strange indeed, Ganon."
A silence stretched when neither of us said anything.
He rocked back and forth onto his heels and I felt his gaze on me.
"So, have you deemed me worthy of your name yet?" He asked.
Giggling, I turned to him. "You may call me Nabooru."
He smiled, "that's a nice name...would you allow me to see you face since you dragged me here?" He chuckled.
I blinked at him and frowned.
It was true I had my face covered by a vale that hung over over my nose and wrapped around my head so only my eyes were visible.
What a stupid boy to ask that!
"Ganon, if I did that then you'd have to marry me, and I don't think either of us wants that."
His eye opened wide and he looked shocked.
"Really? Why would I have to marry you?"
I sighed. "Simply because a girl like me cannot show her face to just anyone, I have to wait until I'm married for anyone besides close family to see my face."
I said, as if he should know this.
He frowned, and I could tell he was my age by how incredibly young and almost girly he looked with his soft features.
And I was only thirteen!
"How very odd, not everyone does that though, I've seen people-"
"Yes yes yes not everyone does, only some. It's so that one may stay pure and not be looked upon for their looks, but for their inner beauty blah blah blah." I said shrugging and waving my hands.
He was about to reply when we heard voices and suddenly the door was thrown open.
"Hah! There's no getting away this time, I'll drag you back kicking and screaming if I must."
A tall woman holding a spear said this as she walked into the room with others following, blocking the door.
They were all dressed in loose pants and heavy tops that expose their stomachs with tightly pulled back pony tails and leather braces.
"Hey, what do you want with her?"
Ganon asked bravely, but was slightly backing up when the women came inside.
I rolled my eyes when he flinched at her turning her gaze on him.
How sad.
"Stay out of this, child." She said then pointed the spear at me.
"You need to come back, your mother-"
"Bye Ganon!" I yelled as I turned and dove through the window.
"Wait!"
They all shouted as I fell.
I flipped so that when I landed on the cart of straw beneath the window, i was in my back.
I hopped up and ran before they had a chance to jump after.
"Did she say Ganon?" Was all I heard as I sprinted away.